February 2015 – The Prospector

By Max Johnson, Staff Writer

Filth: Featuring a fantastic performance by James McAvoy in the lead role, Filth chronicles the exploits of Police Sergeant Bruce Robertson as he tries to receive a promotion by solving the murder of a young man in Edinburgh. No movie has ever had such a fitting title as Filth does, as this movie is filled to the brim with sex, drugs and good old-fashioned police brutality as we watch Bruce struggle with his own inner demons in this hilarious and gripping dark comedy.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father: Now I should say this upfront, do not watch this movie if you want to feel any sense of happiness for the next month. This homemade documentary dictates the life of Dr.Andrew Bagby, who in 2001 was murdered, and the early childhood of his son Zach. The less you know about this movie the better, as the homemade documentary style that the movie is presented in means that by the end of it it’s impossible not to be moved by it.

Oldboy (2003): A South Korean thriller, Oldboy is a weird movie. The initial premise of the movie is that a man, Oh Dae-su is, kidnapped and locked in a windowless room for 15 years. Not knowing why or who had imprisoned him, his resulting story is ultimately a violent and dark thriller that keeps you interested until the end. Don’t watch the 2013 version directed by Spike Lee, however, since that version is just awful.

Rubber: Directed by French DJ Quentin Dupieux, Rubber makes Oldboy look like Little House on the Prarie. Featuring a sentient tire with the ability to kill people, this is a movie that takes pride in it eccentricity and, from the very beginning, likes to share it with you. While it may not be the best movie ever- something that the movie wants you to know- it’s undeniable that Rubber is something that you will talk about after watching.

Funny Games (1997): From Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke, Funny Games has a horribly ironic name. The premise of the movie is simple, a family goes on vacation to their lake house where they meet a two young men, who, for the rest of the movie, proceed to torment them. The thing that makes this movie special is the unexpected way Haneke twists the viewers expectations to create a truly horrifying experience.

Super: Featuring Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page, Super shows us what the world would be like if people actually became super heroes. And as the movie goes on to show, it would be an awful, depressing place. Both Wilson and Page give great performances and by the end you’ll care about what happens to the characters. Similarly to most of the other movies on the list, this movie will end up taking a dark turn so be aware of that before watching.

The Art of Soccer Momming

By Lily Milholm, Staff Writer

With the beautiful and complex art of soccer comes the maddening pressure of parents. There are a million different “soccer mom” stereotypes, but all are equally insane.

There are the “hungry tiger” parents that live vicariously through their athletes. They attend all games and communicate with their children throughout the entire game. They sit on the opposite end of the field, so as to keep away from the coach. They scream when their child is fouled and cheer when their child fouls. They cheer the loudest at their athlete’s success and brag to anyone that will listen. They buy soccer gear and college recruitment information books for their kids every chance they get. They rarely praise their child after games, but always have a substantial amount of criticism. They are heavily involved in all team drama but refuse to have anything to do with planning or fundraising. These parents are often disliked by coaches and the other team parents. They make games and tournaments more stressful.

The “team mom” stereotype is opposite of the “hungry-tiger.” He or she brings snacks for the entire team during tournament weekends and reminds everyone to hydrate and get plenty of vitamin C. Not only do they micromanage their own child’s life, but every single member of the team. They lecture the athletes and parents alike about the importance of high SPF. They know the stats of all the individual players. They know who is injured and all homemade remedies. They can be found massaging the players five minutes before warm up. They fret and stress during game time about everyone’s health. Everyone appreciates all that this soccer mom does. But they drive everyone nuts.

Then there is the mom that doesn’t know anything about the game. She comes to a game every once in a while, and typically sits next to the “hungry tiger” so as to know what to cheer for. They come to field with freshly blown-out hair, beautifully manicured nails, and brand-name high heels. They keep their faces in their phones and complain about turf getting all over their car. They try to befriend the other parents and bond over the stresses of having a child athlete. This mom doesn’t get as much attention as she’s used to. None of the players or parents have much respect for her.

Soccer moms are great and make the soccer world go round. All forms are inevitable. Some are more lovable than others, but soccer wouldn’t be soccer without them.